Land & Plants: 2016 Growth Awards

The Gregorian calendar year has increased by one, so that means it's time for the 5th Annual Growth Awards. Plants grow to propagate their DNA before they're physically outcompeted, but these awards reward those plants that impress me the most with their ability to quickly grow to their mature size or that best represent a Baton Rouge sense of place. Categories are the same as last year: Best Canopy Tree, Best Understory Tree, Best Shrub, Best Wildflower, Best Edible, Best Vine, Best Grass, and Best Fall Color.

Heights measurements were taken on December 29, 2016. Criteria vary per category but are generally the percentage increase in height from a year ago.

In Memory

With all gardening, there is death as well as life. It's the cycle of life, and the death of one individual is necessary for other individuals to live. (Bacteria and fungus break material down to be reused by other plants.) Let's take a look back at those plants that are no longer with us.

MayhawPlanted: 2014 OctoberI planted two mayhaw next to each other two years ago. For unknown reasons, one had a harder time of it and finally succumbed to death this year. The cause was probably consistent underwatering before it could get established.

HackberryPlanted: (volunteer circa 2013)Common hackberries pop up all over the yard, and I left two alone to grow up for three or so years. But they get quite large and the location wasn't suited for it, so I decided to saw them down in November.

Red maple (west)Planted: 2011 DecemberOne of the two red maples kinda plateaued, and I wanted a black tupelo somewhere. I therefore decided this one needed to be removed. On New Year's Day 2016, I dug it up and replaced it with a new tupelo. The maple has since died and been burned in a backyard fire.

Biggest Scandal

There has been a scandal category for the past two years, but this year nothing bizarre and unexpected happened. While this is a good thing, it may leave you wishing for a repeat of previous years' drama.

Let's now begin the actual award categories.

Best Canopy Tree

First off, let's look at the tall trees that grow above all others. The primary criterion is percentage height increase from a year ago.

BaldcypressCurrent height: 7'9" (max: 80')Planted: 2013 DecemberIf you recall, I grew this from seed. It won the 2013 Best Canopy Category that year before being overpowered by the American sycamore for the past two years. This year, though, it managed to outperform the sycamore by growing 58% taller in a single year. That's almost 3 feet in a single year.

American sycamoreCurrent height: 11'2" (max: 90')Planted: 2014 MayThe winner of this category in 2014 and 2015 only increased by 47% in 2016. It's growing more each year, but because it's so tall the percentage increase is decreasing.

Red mapleCurrent height: 8'9" (max: 60')Planted: 2011 DecemberThe stronger of the two red maples (and the only one that is currently alive) only grew 28% in the past year, but this is enough to rank third place.

Shumard oakCurrent height: 10'8" (max: 80')Planted: 2015 NovemberA new entry to this category, the Shumard oak grew an unexpected 14" in since being planted. This is a modest 12%.

Tuliptree (north)Current height: 5'2" (max: 100')Planted: 2013 OctoberThe northern tuliptree has caught up with the southern tree, growing 11% taller. They are now the same height. This increase just beat out the black tupelo, which only grew 10%.

Best Understory Tree

These are shorter trees that grow under canopy trees or at the forest edge. Or maybe just by themselves. The primary criterion is how well they are filling out since height isn't everything in the understory.

Eastern redcedarCurrent height: 16'0" (max: 40')Planted: 2011 OctoberThis guy has done well year after year, even though I've moved it from "Tall Tree, >20 feet" in 2012 to "Canopy Tree" in 2013 to "Understory Tree" in 2014. It's previously won first place twice, and wins again this year because of the combination of a 32% increase in height, its usefulness as a Christmas tree, its full shape, and its very interesting bark.

American hornbeamCurrent height: ? (max: 40')Planted: 2013 OctoberI really can't say how tall this tree grew because I can't get a measuring tape that high. It has a trunk that is starting to get characteristically ripply, but it has yet to fill out.

Cherry laurelCurrent height: 2'10" (max: 40')Planted: 2014 OctoberThis plant has grown about the same amount in 2014, 2015, and 2016 (11"), but its percentage increase was only 48% this past year. Some might say it has been unfairly treated as it was completely ignored last year, but I remind you that these awards are mostly subjective.

Fringetree (middle)Current height: 1'10" (max: 20')Planted: 2014 AprilFringetrees historically don't make the nominations due to their slow growth, but this one's 47% increase got it in this time. (Though this will likely be the last time we see it as an awards nominees. Other plants will likely outperform it next year.)

Best Shrub

Not quite what I would call a tree due to their height and shape.

CoralbeanCurrent height: ~6' (max: 6')Planted: 2014 MarchThe two coralbeans in the back alley have reached what I imagine are full size. I didn't bother measuring them, but I figure they're in the 6-7' range. Because of their size, interesting leaf shape, and usefulness to hummingbirds, I thought they should both win the Best Shrub category.

GroundselCurrent height: 10'11" (max: 12')Planted: 2014 MayBut not to be outdone, the original groundsel is equally impressive to me. It grew another 56% and was swamped by insects when it flowered this fall. That technically means three plants win this category this year.

Arrowwood viburnum (west)Current height: 6'6" (max: 8')Planted: 2014 NovemberThe arrowwood viburnums continue to do well as a group. This one grew 39%.

Best Wildflower

Partridge peaSowed: 2013 March (originally)The 4th generation of this annual did their great-grandparents proud, drawing the admiration of native bees, wasps, and sulphur butterflies.

Scarlet sageSowed: 2015 AugustDespite a long flowering season and their attractiveness to hummingbirds, I didn't feel these scarlet sage quite beat the winners of this category.

Blazing starPlanted: 2015 NovemberLarger bees were drawn to the flowers. This is a great addition, and I hope the abundance of seeds means this plant will pop up in other areas of the yard in 2017.

Swamp sunflowerSowed: 2014 NovemberWhen the flowers bloom in fall, the plant is taller than me. Many bees visit and all is well.

Indian pinkPlanted: 2015 DecemberI thought this one should beat out the penstemon and trillium because of how long it's taken me to get them to grow in my yard under the live oak. I hope they decide to come back in spring.

Best Edible

Things I can eat.

Climbing cucumberThe winner turned out to be what others might call a weed. It's a delicate vine that gets tiny yellow flowers followed by miniature fruit that resemble watermelon but taste like cucumber. Just remember to eat them while they're still light green because they are poisonous once they turn black.

YauponI was tempted to award first place to yaupon again as I do enjoy tea from its leaves, but the climbing cucumber is just so convenient to pick and eat.

BasilSowed: 2016 MarchI grew a new batch of basil from seed in March. They didn't get as big as I wanted probably because the soil I planted them in doesn't have enough organic matter.

Bay laurelPlanted: 2014 OctoberIt was shaded by partridge pea this year, but that may be how it survived the crazy weather of this year's summer. Because I picked off a couple leaves, it just beat some edible ginger I planted in April (which I will only harvest in another year).

Best Vine

These grow up vertical things.

MaypopPlanted: 2014 FebruaryAfter two years of being nominated, the maypop finally wins this year because of its tenacity to grow way up a crepe myrtle, its value to fritillary caterpillars, and other vines' lackluster performance. It has yet to flower, though.

Climbing cucumberEven though I eat its fruit, I really don't want to encourage this vine too much as it tends to grow very quickly.

CrossvinePlanted: 2014 DecemberThe crossvine has reached the top of the fence, but it has yet to break out along the top and it didn't produce any flowers this year.

Virginia creeperThey are reliable as always, but I didn't see any fruit this year. Also, the weather didn't encourage much fall color.

Climbing hydrangeaPlanted: 2015 OctoberThis one makes the nominations because it's still alive. (I do have a virgin's bower, but it has slipped unnoticed behind some other plants.)

Best Grass

The competition for Best Grass has increased over previous years.

Bushy bluestemSowed: (volunteer)I identified the winner this year once it flowered. It's a tall, spectacular grass, and I don't know how it got to my yard. But I have spread its seeds around the yard so that I can help return it to this small patch of Baton Rouge.

Gulf muhlyPlanted: 2015 NovemberThree of the muhly grass plants exploded in pink flowers this year. What a great species.

Little bluestemSowed: 2016 MarchI didn't expect such quick growth, but the little bluestem that I sowed in March not only grew tall but also flowered in the first year. Compared to broomsedge, the leaves are more purple and what I would call greyish green, which I can understand might appear blue to some.

BroomsedgeBroomsedge is the original grass in my yard, having won this category back in 2014. When it dies back in late fall or early winter, the leaves turn a straw color, making it very distinguishable from little bluestem.

Best Fall Color

This category returns this year and highlights all the ways fall colors can appear in south Louisiana.

Flowering dogwoodColor: redPlanted: 2016 JanuaryThe weather this fall wasn't conducive to much fall color this year, and yet this new flowering dogwood stood out in bright red.

Winged sumacColor: redPlanted: 2015 MarchThe winged sumac did well again as it reliably turns red according to changes in lighting and not temperature, but it was no match for the dogwood.

Shumard oakColor: redPlanted: 2015 NovemberIn the future, this oak will provide good color, but the temperatures just didn't cooperate this year. (All other plants faired much worse in this regard.)

Now let's see how my last year's predictions for top performers did in 2016.

2015's up-and-coming for 2016

ElderberryCurrent height: ~7' (max: 10')Sowed: 2016 JulyRating: very goodTwo of the four elderberry grew quite tall — one even flowered! — but they are still too young to get bushy.

Red mulberryCurrent heights: 1'1", 1'9" (max: 20')Planted: 2014 DecemberRating: fairIt could be that these two plants are still getting their roots established. Or it could be that they just don't like dappled shade all that much.

CrossvinePlanted: 2014 DecemberRating: fairSame thing goes for the crossvine: it could still be getting its roots established, but it did reach the top of the fence this year.

American beautyberryCurrent height: [various] (max: 6')Planted: [various]Rating: goodConsidering I grew these from cuttings or seed in early 2015, I think they are doing quite well now. There are something like 12 of them growing alongside the 4 I had previously bought in pots.

Possumhaw viburnumCurrent height: 5'8" (max: 10')Planted: 2016 OctoberRating: poorThis plant did not grow in height or width. It had a few flowers and very little resulting fruit. It is likely still getting established.

2016's up-and-coming for 2017

And finally, to wrap up this awards show, I'd like to predict five potential break-out plants for 2017.

Red coral honeysucklePlanted: 2016 OctoberIt may be that it uses 2017 to grow its roots, much like what appears to be happening with the crossvine, but I think there's still a chance of some vertical growth up the fence.

American beautyberry patchCurrent height: [various] (max: 6')Planted: [various]I think much of next growing season's above-ground growth will be with just a few shoots. This will allow me to prune next winter so that they can get nice and bushy. I also look forward to all the flowers and purple fruit. Fall will be even better next year.

ElderberryCurrent height: ?' (max: 10')Sowed: 2016 JulyI'll prune them in the next couple months, and that should encourage more branching for 2017.

Yaupon (northwest)Current height: 1'11" (max: 25')Planted: 2016 DecemberI just planted a female to replace some shell ginger. It may be slow in 2017, but yaupons tend to be very fast growers under the right conditions.

CrossvinePlanted: 2014 DecemberI don't know this species very well, but its slow growth thus far might just be what happens when newly planted.